Technology leader Kevin Lomax heads Envestors new non-executive board to guide planned growth
Technology leader Kevin Lomax heads Envestors new
non-executive board to guide planned growth
Envestors, the UK’s leading private investor network, has appointed three experienced entrepreneurs as non-executive board members and announces plans for a secure technology platform to increase private investors’ participation in backing growth businesses.
Kevin Lomax, technology entrepreneur who founded and led the software group Misys plc to a FTSE100 company, becomes chairman. Also joining as non-executive directors are Penny Avis, a former Deloitte LLP corporate finance partner and Julian Box, founder and CEO of Calligo, a provider of cloud-based enterprise data security solutions.
Together with Envestors’ experienced executive team, they are committed to extend its global network of investors for companies seeking £500,000 to £10 million of equity funding.
The advance comes as Envestors, based in London with offices in Yorkshire, Jersey, Monaco and Dubai, celebrates winning this year’s Investor Allstars’ Private Investor Network of the Year award for the third time in their successful ten year history.
Oliver Woolley, CEO of Envestors, said: “We have seen a huge increase in activity from sophisticated investors looking to invest in high growth companies. The economy’s emergence from recession, lower returns from public asset classes and increased tax-based incentives such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme are fuelling this demand.
“We share a common vision with Kevin, Penny and Julian, who bring valuable experience and knowledge to shake up the way in which private investors manage their investments.
“Now more than ever, investors want to identify opportunities, exchange views and track their investments through to exit – that’s exactly what our digital platform delivers.”
“The success of Britain’s economic future depends in no small part on the success of our budding entrepreneurs,” said Kevin Lomax. “The people best placed to provide the risk capital and managerial guidance are often experienced angel investors, high-net-worth entrepreneurs and family offices. They require far more than a spreadsheet and good intentions.”
Penny Avis commented: “I’ve been impressed with how Oliver, Scott Haughton, Nick Taylor and their team enable sophisticated investors to get close to the most promising, hand-selected opportunities.” Julian Box added: “Building those relationships into a secure digital platform to help bring even better investment performance is an exciting progression – all the more important as UK deals are often funded from Envestors’ international network.”
All three non-executive directors have invested personally in Envestors to enable the rapid growth plans and development of the investor platform. Since 2004, Envestors has helped UK companies raise more than £78 million, including £11.1 million over four years for Chargemaster plc, the electric vehicle charging infrastructure provider and Tech Track 100 company.
